The Notable Films of 2013: Volume L Part 1

In this volume I consider a period hostage drama from the director of “Juno,” a British sci-fi paranoia thriller set on another planet, the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to full-time acting, a geriatric version of “The Hangover,” a biopic of the legendary politician who united South America, a documentary set entirely onboard fishing boats, a 3D re-release of one of Disney’s most beloved animated films, and a remake of a Flemish high-concept infidelity thriller.

The Lifeguard

Liz W. Garcia’s daring-sounding Sundance entry is this dark drama starring “Veronica Mars” and “House of Lies” actress Kristen Bell as a former valedictorian who quits her reporter job in New York and returns to the last place that she truly felt happy: her childhood home in Connecticut. She gets a job as a lifeguard, and starts a dangerous relationship with a 16-year-old delinquent. Shot in Pittsburgh last summer, the film boasts a cast that includes Mamie Gummer, Martin Starr, Alex Shaffer, Joshua Harto and Amy Madigan.

The Little Mermaid 3D

While “The Lion King” was the box-office juggernaut, “Beauty and the Beast” the critical darling, and “Aladdin” the cool kids movie, it was 1989’s “The Little Mermaid” that began the so-called ‘Disney Renaissance’. ‘Mermaid’ kicked-off a wave of successful titles over the next decade that resurrected the company’s animation department from over twenty years of mediocrity, turning it into a serious powerhouse of acclaim and financial power in the process. Now, almost a quarter century later, Ariel gets her chance to be part of this world with a 3D re-release. These kinds of re-releases can generate anywhere from $40-90 million in additional box-office, not to mention millions more in new disc sales, for an outlay cost of very little for the conversion and marketing.